Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-18

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will prohibit more, and the time will
come when it will prohibit as ABSOLUTELY
/ as any law can"
"You look long way into the future?'
| eyes; but so do those who stand il
the portals of any great movement, and
as l have seen the gradual strengthening
of other prOhibitory laws, 1 know what
this one will do for public sentiment and
what public sentiment will do for it."
"Whst do you think of prohlbition?"said
TIE GAZETTE to an old line Democrat
81 think much, old boy, much. !
think it the knottiest problem Texas ever
had to solve. The ease and facility with
which some men solve it is my constant
envy."'
"What do you mesn?"
81 mean just what l say. Walk around
with me some time and note with what
duency men solve the question; but then
If you will anaIyze their arguments you
will wonder how they are so easily con-
WINGED.
Don't be ironcal; tell me what 1
want to know, viz: Your faith aud your
reason for it."
"Ihaye no well-defned faith yet, and
bushel Of reasons for it. l saw that Mr..
sides; don't see why. If 8 man who is
for doing so. Why just collate the argu-
ments and see what bundle of contra
diCtiOEs you have!'
"But how do you stand? You must
have leaning, as it WereS"
"As to that, there are few men who do
not lean to every measure which pro-
mot faT1A ~ =
face OF the returns, if you please, it
would seem that prohibition promotes
only good. But don't you realize that
this is question which extends away
into the future and msy bear results not
dreamt of by its most earnest and con
servatiVe advocates? Now, lets suppose d
case. You know [ am Democrat and
believe Democracy essential to the pre-
servatiOn Of al the liberty we enjoy.
Suppose PrOhibitionists are so encOur-
aged by the results of the elections this
year as to put q national ticket in the
field in 1888, with more hopefulness than
ever before; tell me, can and will sim
cere PrOhibitionist Cleave to the DemOc-
racy in the face of the strong hope of sue
cess for national prohibition? If only q
small percentage of prohibition DemOj
Gratis in certain states 60 off after this
issue, where will the Democratic nomi-
nee land?'
"Ask me something easy"
"You may well put it IN that way"
said the Old-liner.
"But is prohibition necessarily anti
Democratic?" asked THE GAZETTE.
''That is the point. That is what am
seeking to know. If it is, then every
Democrat should vote against it. If
it is then every Democrat should
consider the question whether he ought
to vote for it at this time and in this
form. Democrats who deem it the lead
ing issue should certainly give it boost,
while those who hold it as secondary in
Importance to other issues should con-
slider if they do not endanger those
issues by boosting this one, and thus
strengthening the PrOhibitiOnists, who
are not Democrats, to the defeat Of the
Democratic party in 1888"
care you for prOhibitiOn?" was asked
Of g merchant.
81 am"
''Why do you favor it?'
"Because l think it would promote the
common good and be the best advertise
ment of Texas IN communities from which
We are seeking to draw capital to build
up the state, that we could possibly send
out. Texas has hard name, and Just
think of the effect of adopting this amend
ment in the minds of people who have
been accustomed to regard Us all as des-
perate fellows, full Of whisky and loaded
down with revolvers. 1t is right; it is
necessary, and it is business, and that is
why | am for it,"
81 understand that you are opposed to
prohibition, tell me why" said THE GA
ZETTE to well known lawyer.
~ am against it unless | become con-
WINGED that it is the best form of reguIR-
ton. The traffic must be regulated. but
do not think it's evils Justify prohibit
ton. l am an advocate OF high license"
In conversation with gentleman Of
education and travel, he said to THE GA
zETTE: "There are evils in society and
born of it which can not be eradicated;
necessary evils if you please, and
think the honest, sensible way is to recOg-
nize their existence and license
them. This is done in European
countries with good effect, and should be
done here. l believe men should take 8
practical view Of life and its problems
and not legisIate vainly against a human
nature which none can change and which
grows no better by such efforts. Lycurgus
enacted sumptuary laws, but men who
have the privilege of framing their own
laws should nOt.'
"And why are you opposed to prohibit
tiOn?" asked THE GAZETTE of q man
grounded in the Democratic faith.
because 1t is anti-DemOCratiC, and l
am the more opposed to it because, no
matter how the election goes, its infu-
ence will be to weaken my party. The
priests and the prophets of this move
ment are not Democrats at heart, and
they would endanger every principle
dependent upon Democratic ascend
ancy to achieve their purpose. am not
that kind of q Democrat, and believe
there are greater ills than liquor licenses
which Democratic success alone can
remedy"
Pondering the last two interviews, THE
GAZETTE sought out a gentleman and
said: 81 am seeking information, tell me
what you think of prohibition as stump
tuary and political question:"
you are the third man to-day who has
asked me that self-same question. Pro-
hibitiOn must be sumptuary measure in
order to be anything more than g mere
Tnr for